Congressional Politics

Gerryminder, developed by Jeremy M. Teigen and Jeffrey A. Gilbertson, is a free, online redistricting simulation designed for undergraduates learning about congressional elections, representation, and gerrymandering. It uses real election data at the county level in Iowa. By putting students in a position to manipulate district lines themselves with a measure of "fairness," Gerryminder provides a non-boring, experiential way to teach redistricting.

The Redistricting Game is designed to educate, engage, and empower citizens around the issue of political redistricting. Currently, the political system in most states allows the state legislators themselves to draw the lines. This system is subject to a wide range of abuses and manipulations that encourage incumbents to draw districts which protect their seats rather than risk an open contest.

By exploring how the system works, as well as how open it is to abuse, The Redistricting Game allows players to experience the realities of one of the most important (yet least understood) aspects of our political system. The game provides a basic introduction to the redistricting system, allows players to explore the ways in which abuses can undermine the system, and provides info about reform initiatives - including a playable version of the Tanner Reform bill to demonstrate the ways that the system might be made more consistent with tenets of good governance. Beyond playing the game, the web site for The Redistricting Game provides a wealth of information about redistricting in every state as well as providing hands-on opportunities for civic engagement and political action.

American government simulations use role playing to make American politics come alive. These national government classroom or online simulations create an active learning experience, and are appropriate for political science or government classes, continuing education courses, civic education conferences, community organizations or elder hostel.

Articles, Books, and Conference Papers

Baranowski, Michael. 2006. “Single Session Simulations: The Effectiveness of Short Congressional Simulations in Introductory American Government Classes.” Journal of Political Science Education 2(1): 33-49. Abstract

Endersby, James W., and David J. Webber. 1995. “Iron Triangle Simulation: A Role-Playing Game for Undergraduates in Congress, Interest Groups, and Public Policy Classes.” PS: Political Science and Politics 28(3): 520-3. Abstract

Hoffman, Donna R. 2009. “Representation and the Rules of the Game: An Electoral Simulation.” PS: Political Science and Politics 42(3): 531-5. Abstract

Josefson, Jim, and Kelly Casey. 2000. “Simulating Issue Networks in Small Classes Using the World Wide Web.” PS: Political Science and Politics 33(4): 843-846. Abstract

Lyons, Michael S. 2013. "Total Immersion: Taking a Congressional Simulation to the Next Level." Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Long Beach, CA, February 8-10. Contact

Moser, John E. 2011. “Senate Baron: A Simulation of Politics in the U.S. Senate, 1933-1942.” Simulation and Gaming 4(2): 496-525. Abstract

Niven, David. 2013. "Passing a Law is Harder than Organic Chemistry: Measuring What Was Learned in a Congressional Simulation." Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Long Beach, CA, February 8-10. Contact

Wilkinson, John D. 2012. “Get Out of the Way! How a simulation changed how I think about teaching, turned on my students, and ruined my other classes.” Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Washington, D.C., February 17-19. Contact